IT workers less chubby than financial services, government employees

May 14, 2008 —

With temperatures starting to climb and swimsuit season fast approaching, many
IT workers are taking stock of their weight -- and half of them are finding
that they've packed on the pounds.

A new CareerBuilder.com
survey reports that 50 percent of IT workers (compared to 45% of employees
generally) have gained weight at their current jobs.

Thirty-four percent of IT workers report they have gained more than ten pounds
and 17 percent say they gained more than 20 pounds while in their present positions.
Comparing industries, weight gain by IT employees (50 percent) is similar to
the weight gain reported in other industries, such as financial services (53
percent), government (52 percent), healthcare (49 percent) and sales (49 percent).
Retail and leisure and hospitality had the lowest percentage of employees gain
weight in their current roles, at 36 percent and 41 percent, respectively.

“Weight gain tends to be quite common in the workplace, especially when
winter’s cold weather keeps the majority of workers inside all day and
treats loom in every break room,” said Jason Ferrara, vice president of
Corporate Marketing for CareerBuilder.com. “As summer kicks into high gear,
though, people are more likely to focus on getting healthy, and it is a great
time of year to be more active and mindful of your food choices.”

Eating habits can often be a culprit in workplace weight gain. Nearly 41 percent
of IT employees surveyed eat out for lunch twice or more per week, making it
difficult to control portions and calorie intake. An additional 11 percent buy
their lunch out of a notoriously unhealthy vending machine at least once a week.

Snacking can also be a slippery slope for those trying to cut back on calories,
as nearly 55 percent of IT employees surveyed snack at least once a day, while
nearly 30 percent snack at least twice a day.

Ferrara recommends the following tips for fending off workplace weight gain:

Start the day off right -- Eating a high-protein and fiber-filled breakfast
can provide the energy you need to get you to lunch and avoid the temptation
of break room donuts, candy or other high-fat treats.

Stay hydrated -- Sometimes a snack craving can be mistaken for dehydration.
Be sure to keep water or another healthy beverage at your desk throughout the
day so that you can hydrate freely.

Write it down -- Keeping a nutrition and food journal can help you track
how your snacks and meals add up during the day, allowing you to notice when
you overindulge.

Mix up your routine -- Every little bit of activity helps, so take the
stairs to your floor, walk over to co-workers instead of calling or emailing
them or try parking your car farther away from the office.

Keep your cool --Stress can fuel poor eating habits, as you can tend
to overeat or make inadequate food choices when you’re feeling overwhelmed.
Try to manage stress with regular exercise and speak with a supervisor if you’re
workload is drowning you.

ITworld.com